Integral Coach Factory’s (ICF) General Manager U Subba Rao and his team has been busy throughout the year to ensure that the Vande Bharat high quality coaches are rolled out. In an interaction, Rao discusses this year’s achievements. Excerpts:
With Vande Bharat, how did ICF make a difference to the railways and the passengers?
With the successful launch of Vande Bharat Express on February 16, 2019, which was originally called the Train-18, India has positioned itself among select nations who have the capability to build trainsets. The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express has brought in a new passenger experience in terms of faster, safer and better rail travel in India. ICF could achieve this feat with domestic technology at a very competitive cost in line with (the vision of) ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
A ‘Make in India’ product, it has been developed and manufactured by ICF indigenously, thereby reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. KAVACH automatic train protection system prevents collisions, further enhancing operational safety.
How many Vande Bharat trains are running currently and how many will join the network next year?
The first two trains (Version-1) have been in service since 2019. The manufacturing of Vande Bharat Version-2 with enhanced features and energy efficiency was started in August 2022 and so far, ICF has churned out 80 Version-2 trains. ICF plans to manufacture a total of 99 trainsets by 2025. Currently, 65 Vande Bharat trainsets are in operation across the country.
How is ICF gearing up for producing bullet trains?
The first high-speed rail (HSR) line is being laid between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The special purpose vehicle for this project is the NHSRCL (National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd). Upon successful deployment of indigenous semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains over IR network, it was decided to indigenously develop two prototype trainsets of 250-kmph trains for the MAHSR (Mumbai-Ahmadabad High Speed Rail) line. ICF has been advised by the Railway Board to process the ordering.
ICF has decided to develop this train in association with BEML Ltd and it has placed orders for two 8-car high speed trainsets to BEML. The coaches will have executive and economy classes. The train design will be jointly developed in consultation with renowned international high speed train designers and sub-system suppliers. The train will meet the dimensions, signalling and other track infrastructure of the standard gauge track structure of MAHSR line. ICF and BEML plan to complete the development of the first prototype in the next two years. The prototype train will undergo extensive trials on the MAHSR line before its formal introduction to passenger service. Upon success of the prototype trains, series production of more such trains will be taken up.
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